Humpback whale sighted off Heiligenhafen on Germany's Baltic coast

The German Marine Museum reported two sightings of a large whale near Heiligenhafen on the Schleswig‑Holstein Baltic coast between 12:00 and 14:00 on Thursday. The available photo and video evidence is low quality, but the size and appearance suggest it is a humpback whale that has been observed in Danish waters and earlier near Scotland.

The Schleswig‑Holstein Ministry of Environment confirmed the sighting, noting the animal later moved from shallower waters toward open sea. Officials urged the public to keep a safe distance from the whale and to report any strandings, warning that heavy ship traffic can stress the animal. The ministry did not launch a dedicated monitoring operation, stating a single sighting does not constitute an emergency.

The sighting follows recent reports of a humpback whale in the Danish Baltic, including near Aarhus and between Jutland and the island of Funen, raising questions about the whale’s health and migration route.